Foot & Ankle Injures with Children’s Sport

Tis the season for our sporty kiwi kids to be suffering injuries out on the football field. The most common injuries our kids may suffer occur in the foot, ankle, and legs. Regardless of whether it is a bruise, sprain, or fracture; parents need to be able to assess the injury and attend to it appropriately. Healthy Step’s covers both foot care for kids and sports podiatry. We have compiled a list of the most common sports-related foot and ankle injuries and how to treat them.

Servers Disorder near Achilles Tendon

Severs disorder is caused by inflammation around the growth plate on the back of the heel bone which is attached to the Achilles tendon. Heel pain is one of the most common problems afflicting sporty kids like our future footy stars, particularly between the ages of 8 and 13. Essentially, the Achilles tendon and calf muscles tense up as the child grows which increases the pressure on the growth plate and the back of the heel. Inflammation and pain are the most common symptoms associated with severs disorder. In order to reduce the pain, Healthy Step’s podiatrists’ will be able to recommend orthotics that will assist in stabilizing the heel. We will also demonstrate how to stretch the tender calf muscles without causing further damage.

Minor & Major Ankle Sprains

Ligaments on the outside of the ankle are often damaged by being twisted inwards. Minor sprains happen when only a few ligament fibres are damaged. This will present itself with swelling around the ankle and a slight amount of pain. Major ankle sprains or minor fractures occur when the ankle ligaments actually tear, which can cause severe damage to the bone. Considerable pain, bruising, swelling, and an inability to stand on that foot will accompany this type of injury. Remember the acronym RICE- which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You should immediately book an appointment with one of our podiatrist’s to ensure that your child receives the proper care. If these types of ankle sprains are not treated in the right manner, the injury is likely to reoccur. The last thing you want is for your future footy star to suffer from weak ankles. More often than not, ankle braces, crutches or casts will be needed to support the injured ankle.

Awful Foot Arch Pain

This problem often occurs with kids who have feet that over pronate (tilt inward) or have flat feet. Sports can add additional strain to growing feet and legs. This starts off as a minor affliction but progresses to a major problem quite quickly. The muscles that run along beneath the arch are working overtime to prevent the foot from flattening out or tilting inward. Your child will obviously complain about the pain, and you will notice that they walk on their tip-toes. There are arch supports available for young athletes that our podiatrists at Healthy Feet would be happy to recommend.The most important thing to remember is to pay attention when your pint-sized athlete starts to complain of consistent pain in the feet, ankles, or legs. If your child suddenly becomes clumsier than usual and continually loses his or her balance, it could be a sign of a more severe problem. Check your children’s feet for rashes and bumps. It is better to be safe rather than sorry. Our professionals’ at Healthy Feet will be able to keep your future footy star on the field and off the side-lines.

Make an Appointment

See a foot care specialist and make an appointment with one of our friendly Podiatrists